Why Colin Kaepernick’s National Anthem Protest is Wrong

There are many reasons why I believe Colin Kaepernick’s National Anthem protest is wrong. However, I’d like to start off by saying that I don’t hate him for what he is doing at all. In fact, what he did in a great many ways proved perfectly the point he was trying to make. Proving his point, isn’t the problem. Getting those who need to hear it, is.

I love this country and I would die for this country. However, I would much live for this country. Our country has made a lot of mistakes and she isn’t perfect but I will stand up for the core ideals that she was founded on. Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness good. All that stuff about black people not being worth the same as a white man I want nothing to do with.

When Colin Kaepernick is protesting the treatment of minorities in this country, I fully support that. Not standing for the National Anthem however is mistake because our current constitution supports the exact same things he believes in. What he should be angry at is not America. Colin Kaepernick should be upset with it’s the politicians, the hate groups and the people that support those politicians and hate groups.

Protesting the National Anthem because you’re upset with race relations in this country is like protesting McDonald’s because you’re upset some dude filmed himself fucking a McChicken sandwich. What Colin Kaepernick should be doing is supporting candidates that have the same ideals that he does. He needs to go out and talk about the issues he believes are important. He needs to learn about the political process. Then he could organize some rallies and stage some proper protests.

What he’s doing is failing. He’s pissing off the very people whose minds he wants to change. Preaching to the choir is never how you change minds. It’s never worked and and it will. It is pointless to preach to those who already agree with you. What you need to do is speak to those who do not agree with you. Those are the minds you need to change.

A moment ago I mentioned a proper protest. What did I mean by that? Glad you asked. A proper protest is a legal action. It should be a place where you can make your point to the world. It’s your time speak to those who don’t agree with you and change their minds. But, if you are conducting a protest by pissing the people off those whose minds your are trying to change, you’ve already failed.

One of the reasons Dr. King’s speeches and protests worked and helped to change an entire country is because he spoke to the people. He treated everyone with respect and his protests were peaceful. The country was forced to take a look at itself in the mirror because of the things he said and did. The way we saw the treatment of the black community began to change. News coverage of white cops beating black men with night sticks could no longer be ignored. White cops turning hoses on peaceful protesters began to sink in to mainstream America that there’s a problem they could no longer deny.

Dr. King’s speeches, protests and rallies never would have been effective if he had not preached love and respect over hate and fear. He was a smart man and he knew that education, politics and love would win the day. This is in complete contrast to what Colin Kaepernick is doing. It’s only assuring that the very minds he wants to open will remain closed. The only thing those people will see is that Colin Kaepernick hates America. That is the exact opposite of what I believe Colin Kaepernick is trying to accomplish and I am sure the exact opposite of what he believes.